My understanding is that once a pleural effusion is identified or suspected on chest x-ray the fluid amount is measured( not sure how that is exactly done) then if it is above a certain amount then it is tapped via thoracentesis. (is this correct?) The ct-scan is used for large effusions? I am unsure of the role of the ct-scan in pleural effusions because even if the effusion is loculated wouldn't I still have to tap it anyway?
thanks again, spent a great deal of time trying to look this up but I had trouble finding definitive answers.
thanks again, spent a great deal of time trying to look this up but I had trouble finding definitive answers.